Past Continuous

A Complete the sentences with the Past Continuous of the verbs in brackets.
were sitting (sit) in their
1 The students .............................. 4 ........................ you ........................
chairs when the teacher came in. (make) a noise at 12 oclock last night?
2 ........................ your mum ........................ 5 The boy took a biscuit while his mother
(sleep) yesterday at four oclock? .............................. (cook).
3 We .............................. (leave) the house 6 Mum and Dad .............................. (not shop)
when the phone rang. at one oclock.

B Write each sentence in the negative form. Then write new affirmative sentences using the
words in brackets. Pay attention to the underlined words.

1 My brother was reading at nine oclock. 3 I was waiting for my friend all morning.
(eight oclock) (the postman)
My brother wasnt reading at nine oclock.
a .......................................................................... a ........................................................................
He was reading at eight oclock.
b .......................................................................... b ........................................................................
2 Sarah and Danny were studying at 4 The dogs were sleeping in the garden all day.
six oclock. (watch TV) (play)
a .......................................................................... a ........................................................................
b .......................................................................... b ........................................................................

C Write questions using the words below. Use the Past Continuous.

1 you / sleep / at 11.00 / last night / ? 3 your teacher / shout / this morning / ?
Were you sleeping at 11.00 last night?
........................................................................ ........................................................................
2 the students / play / during the break / ? 4 Sally / shop / all afternoon / ?
........................................................................ ........................................................................

D Complete the sentences with the Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
was writing
1 The reporter ...................................... were taking
(write) an article while the photographers ......................................
(take) pictures.
2 The students ...................................... (not study) for a test. They ...................................... (make) a
poster.
3 ......................you ...................... (ride) your horse at 4 oclock yesterday?
4 We ...................................... (sit) at our desks when the bell rang.
5 My brother ...................................... (not wash) the dishes when Mum came home.
He ...................................... (sleep)!
6 ...................... it ...................... (snow) when you left the house?

Photocopiable B Burlington Books 1

Past Continuous Answers
A 1 were sitting 4 Were making
2 Was sleeping 5 was cooking
3 were leaving 6 werent shopping

B 1 a My brother wasnt reading at nine oclock.

b He was reading at eight oclock.
2 a Sarah and Danny werent studying at six oclock.
b They were watching TV.
3 a I wasnt waiting for my friend all morning.
b I was waiting for the postman.
4 a The dogs werent sleeping in the garden all day.
b They were playing.

C 1 Were you sleeping at 11.00 last night?

2 Were the students playing during the break?
3 Was your teacher shouting this morning?
4 Was Sally shopping all afternoon?

D 1 was writing, were taking

2 werent studying, were making
3 Were riding
4 were sitting
5 wasnt washing, was sleeping
6 Was snowing

Photocopiable B Burlington Books 2